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Opinions

Changing our Posture Towards Fine Arts

I recently moved to New York City, home of some of the greatest art museums in the world. This experience has brought me new insight about how people and art interact. As I checked off some of the most famous collections of my mental wish list, I became aware of some unspoken fault lines, culminating in the Neue Galerie: a small early twentieth century German and Austrian museum in a cozy Beaux-Arts style building, nestled in at a street corner, its mansard roof primly tucked inside its own parameter. Somehow it remains inconspicuous, just outside the bustle of Central Park. Instead of signs or advertisements beckoning eager tourists with twenty dollar bills ready to leap from their pockets in pursuit of an “authentic” New York experience, one finds there only a small gold plaque with the name of the gallery engraved upon it, difficult to read from more than a few feet.

hannahThe plaque outside the Neue serves as an appropriate metaphor for the state of the general current posture towards the fine arts, and, I daresay, the art world’s posture towards its own audience: the invitation is hard to find and no one wants to take the time to look for it. There is an epidemic, a widening chasm between the elite and the layperson. I see two primary reasons for this: the arts demand more and more pedigree, and in return the average person responds by investing less and less in an enterprise that would rather be a secret club than a shared experience. Even when people exert effort to learn, they find little assurance that they are “elite” enough to take a meaningful part.

For example, on one particular visit the rotating exhibit featured Egon Schiele, an Austrian expressionist, whose work was accompanied by an orchestral piece pouring from the overhead speakers. Amidst Schiele’s visual feast, I noticed the steady stream of carefully reverent viewers, trying not to make eye contact, trying to look appropriately disdainful. Counting the seconds, they made sure to look at one piece long enough to appear contemplative, but briefly enough to seem erudite and experienced. There was an overwhelming sense of unease: the subconscious quiver and timid lethargy of people who weren’t sure they should really be there.

webquoteThe masses are not free of responsibility, though. The aesthetic pleasure of art is not always its
primary aim (in fact, the closer one gets to modernity, the less it tends to be). It’s meant to speak to the depths of available emotion, to challenge one’s assumptions, and to suggest a secondary reality or a potential future. But too often, when art becomes even modestly challenging, it’s quickly abandoned as obscure, nonsensical, or simply uninteresting. We’ve spoiled ourselves into a kind of artistic malnutrition, making ourselves sick on an expectation that everything we consume should be immediately easy to understand. Pop singers like Taylor Swift are popular because their music ostensibly makes us feels good, all dopamine with little talent, thoughtfulness or influential thematic content involved. It’s a fallacy to say “I’m just not into art.” Such a thing expresses an acute disinterest in human nature, beauty, and truth, the seminal elements which inspire us to create. Perhaps society’s vision for education has fallen short if a majority are incapable of appreciating or at least of having the vocabulary to discuss the fine arts.

My greatest hope is that both problems can be addressed: that the fine arts can open their figurative doors a little wider, and that mainstream society can raise its expectations for artistic knowledge. After all, art is for people, and people are meant to be ennobled, edified, and even bettered by art. Neither ignorance nor elitism should be allowed to persist, lest these two extremes repel one another in futility ad infinitum.

Hannah is a junior violin performance major with a minor in Spanish.

Categories
National News

National // Bomb Blast in Manhattan

On Saturday September 17 at approximately 8:30 p.m., a blast caused panic in the Chelsea district of Manhattan. The explosion, caused by an improvised bomb, injured 29 people in its vicinity, mainly through shrapnel. The New York Times reported by Sunday morning 26 of those individuals were released after being treated in area hospitals. Aside from injuries, multiple news sources reported blown out windows and widespread street closures as a result of the detonation.

luchtfoto_van_lower_manhattanCity and state officials remained on high alert after confirming the existence of a second “pressure cooker” bomb in the same district, according to CNN. The New York Times reported the device was transported to the New York Police Department (NYPD) firing range at Rodman’s Neck in the Bronx, where it was deactivated.  This particular kind of explosive has not garnered national attention since the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings, which killed eight people and injured dozens.

A photo of the device surfaces on social media websites late Saturday evening. The photo, which was confirmed by police to be authentic, pictured a cookware item attached to wires, christmas lights, and a cell phone.

New York City Mayor, Bill de Blasio, called the act “intentional,” yet as of Sunday evening there was no known motive for the violent act. State and city authorities found no evidence of an international terrorist connection, though the New York Times quoted New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, as having stated , “A bomb exploding in New York is obviously an act of terrorism.”

BBC, as well as CNN, have acknowledged the existence of a “person of interest,” a man who was spotted at both bomb locations, however, at this time the man’s identity  is unknown. Reports of the accident claimed surveillance footage showed a man walking with a wheeled duffel near the explosion of the bomb, and then later show what appears to be the same man with the same bag in the location where the second, un-detonated bomb was found.

The reason of the targeted location is also a mystery. A police officer told the New York Times, “”We don’t understand the target or the significance of [the detonated device]. It’s by a pile of dumpsters on a random sidewalk.” At this point, it is thought to be because of the dense population of the district, with its crowded bars, restaurants, and shops.

Both the Democratic and Republican Presidential candidates responded to the bombing,BBC stated. Republican candidate, Donald Trump, tweeted condolences to those affected. Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton, advised Americans to avoid premature conclusions about the nature of the bombing.

Saturday’s violence preceded the Tuesday meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, which U.S. President Barack Obama and other world leaders were expected to attend. De Blasio promised a “bigger than ever” police presence in the city, according to the BBC.

Cuomo backed up this promise, deploying 1,000 additional New York State Troopers to patrol the city’s subway tunnels, busses, and sidewalks in the coming days and weeks. “Whoever placed these bombs – we will find them and they will be brought to justice,” Cuomo said.

 

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Categories
Campus News

CAB to Host Tenth Annual Film Festival

April 23 will  mark the tenth anniversary of the annual Film Festival. Houghton students have the opportunity to put together films, present them to an audience, and be judged and awarded accordingly.

fILMfEST16fINALThe Film Festival is hosted each year by  the Campus Activities Board (CAB), with the current director Brittany Hark ‘16 coordinating the event. “Each CAB person has their individual events- this is my event,” she said. Hark became involved with the festival as a first year CAB member and grew to love it, continuing to be involved with it even during her junior year when she was not officially a part of CAB. “I’m the tech go-to, and it’s a pretty tech heavy event.” she explained. Her involvement with the event is “really exciting” as it coincides with the festival’s tenth anniversary.

To mark the occasion of the anniversary, alumni who first created the event will be returning Houghton to discuss the creation and intentions of the Film Fest when it first began.“It will show how the Film Festival has grown and changed,” Hark said. She noted the development of the event into “a more prestigious event, drawing people from outside of Houghton.”

This is reflected in the changes in the judging process, which will take place both online and will involve several judges beyond the borders of Houghton. Among them is a New York City individual without ties to Houghton, someone from India, and several Houghton alumni involved in the film industry. Responses to these changes have been largely positive. Hark said, “The only negative feedback of switching the judging process is that there is less dialogue between judges.” However, she and others involved are working to incorporate  the element of dialogue into the new judging process, with opportunities for more credible judges become possible.

Additional changes include the addition of new categories. These categories include the artistic showcase music video, and thirty second categories. Hark said with the creation of the thirty second category, “We are hoping that people who are tight on time or don’t feel like they can put on a big video feel more comfortable.” This intention aligns with the overarching desire to expand the film festival, whether through judges of distant connection or a broader base of video submissions.

Hark is looking forward to the film festival as a chance to recognize the efforts and artistic capacities of Houghton students. She noted that while the majority of video submissions come from communication majors who have taken film classes, there are many submissions from other majors as well. “It’s cool to see just how talented students are, especially if it’s not their major,” she said. Thus while the tenth anniversary film festival looks to see what has changed, grown, and improved, its original intent in showcasing the talent of Houghton residents is maintained.

Categories
News

New Music Industry Major

On November 4, 2014, Houghton College and the Greatbatch School of Music received approval from the New York State Department of Education to offer a Music Industry degree. This degree, launching in the fall of 2015, will prepare students to enter the field of music. Kevin Jackson, the director of technical arts and music industry instructor at Houghton said, “The goal of the new Music Industry major is to open more doors of opportunity for students after graduation while still maintaining high standards of musical excellence and technical facility, creativity, applied knowledge and spiritual growth as part of a student’s experience at Houghton.”

Music IndustryCMYKInstruction will be given in almost every aspect of the industry starting with a solid understanding of music, for which the Greatbatch School of Music is already widely known. From there, students will take courses in music business, music technology, live sound production, studio recording and music production preparing them for jobs such as music technology, production, business, publishing, recording and broadcast engineering, artist booking and tour management, film and video game composition, and performance law.

Students pursuing the new bachelor’s degree will have access to some of the top instructors and equipment currently in the industry. Matt Odmark, acoustic guitar player and founding member of the well known Christian rock band, Jars of Clay, will be joining as an adjunct instructor for an upcoming Music Production Analysis class. It’s scheduled to be offered sometime next year. “We are fortunate to have a person like Matt interested in Houghton, especially with the wealth of experience and connections he brings to the college,” said Jackson, “When Jars of Clay played here a couple of years ago, Matt expressed great interest in partnering with us and caught the vision of what we were attempting to accomplish. He followed up by guest lecturing one of the Pro Tools classes that year.”

The college has also invested about $80,000 in a new music technology lab. This lab is equipped with twenty student stations and a teacher station equipped with the latest Mac computers, M-Audio controller keyboards, PreSonus recording interfaces as well as the latest recording and composing software — Pro Tools 11, Sibelius 7.5 and Ableton Live 9.

“We now have one of the best studios in upstate New York — and one of the most extensive microphone lockers and outboard gear collections. If you visited a top-notch studio in Nashville, Los Angeles or New York City, you would find that we own the same equipment here at Houghton,” said Jackson. “This benefits the students in that it allows the students the ability to practice their craft on the same gear that professionals are using every single day in professional recording and post-production studios worldwide.”

The department is currently waiting for degree approval from the National Association of Schools of Music, an organization Greatbatch has been a part of since 1947.  Nate Floyd, a junior and music major, plans on switching to the new major as soon as possible. “It’s dealing with the industry in a real way. Professor Jackson has real world experience and uses it in the classroom,” he said.  “In that way we are leaning what’s actually happening in the field, not some idealistic version of it.”

The coursework of the major is built to give students an in-depth understanding of the industry as a whole which makes them prime candidate for jobs in the field. Classes such as Introduction to Pro Tools and Pro Tools Production 1 will give the students hands-on experience with Avid Pro Tools, the most widely used recording software in the professional audio world. After completion of the course, students then have the opportunity to become Pro Tools certified. This certification allows future employers to see a student is a skilled Pro Tools user. Other courses like Sound Design and Processing for Film, TV and Video Games, and Introduction to Film Music will focus on broader topics like compiling and creating sound effects and composition for film, TV, and video games. Music industry majors will also complete courses such as Recording and Studio Technique, Music Production Analysis, Advanced Music Production, and Critical Listening and the Art of Mixing.

First year student, Aaron Campbell, first came to Houghton hoping to pursue degrees in both business and vocal performance, but found the classically grounded music program was not exactly what he was looking for. “Ideally I want to compose and produce music and so music industry is a better fit for me. The music industry major offers in-depth training in almost every aspect of musical recording and production as well as many others,” he said. “Also it compliments my business major to create a stronger degree. The training in the music industry program opens up new opportunities and provides viable skill sets for jobs with a realistic chance of employment.”

Jackson has personally been working on the degree for about eight years. He said, “It started with dreaming, praying, asking questions and then vision casting.” The first step was to offer a practicum in sound and recording class, which trains Houghton’s student tech team who run sound and provide other tech support at many of the events around the campus. Around three years later Houghton started offering Pro Tools classes, these classes were the foundation of what would eventually become the music industry degree.

“I believe we have one of the best music industry programs in the country. There are many reasons for that, including our internships with industry professionals in Nashville, New York, and Los Angeles. The recording studio and brand new music technology lab here at the college and our faculty who are world class,” Jackson concluded. “Not just in all things music technology, but in their respective musical fields. When you combine all of the above together, you have a program that is based on musical and technological excellence.”

Categories
News

Dean Jordan Runs in NYC Marathon

Michael Jordan, dean of the chapel, ran in the record breaking New York City Marathon this past Sunday. He finished in 3541st place out of over fifty thousand runners, with a time of three hours, 26 minutes, and 45 seconds. According to a Runner’s World article, published Monday, this was the largest marathon in history with a total count of 50,564 finishers.

maragreeneJordan stayed on Staten Island, the starting location, about a quarter mile away from the starting line. He said most participants stay in Manhattan and have to take the subway and ferry over, which takes hours. Instead he said he, “rolled out of bed, walked down the street to get a bagel and a cup of coffee and then walked over and ran the race.”

According to Jordan, for him some of the most rewarding aspects of running the marathon was being in a big city, the feeling of accomplishment, and being happy with his time. Distinguished by his poncho, given to him at the finish, he said it seemed the whole city seemed to be asking him excitedly, “Did you run the marathon?!” He was even offered warmer clothes by person on the street, to which he declined. New York City, which he added for having a reputation for being grouchy, he said was really nice and called it “the friendliest city in the world” that day.

There were many international runners in the marathon according to Jordan. He said there were people waving flags from around the world along the course. Wilson Kipsang, and Mary Keitany, both Kenyans, won this year’s mens and womens marathon .

Jordan decided to enter the lottery system for running in the marathon four years ago. His then colleague, Ginny Routhe, former sustainability coordinator at Houghton College, entered at the same time. She also ran in the marathon Sunday.

This was the ninth marathon Jordan ran. The eight other marathons in Buffalo, Letchworth State Park,  Niagara Falls, Rehoboth Beach, and the New Jersey Shore. He said though he is a much more introverted runner, given the chance he would run the NYC marathon again.

Categories
News

New York City Barber Comes to Houghton

MJ Ganci left behind her family, partner, and home in Queens, New York when she came to Houghton in February to pursue her dream. That dream would eventually become “Capones Cuts”, a barbershop located inside Buddy’s Place on Route 19.

HattieBurgherCapone'sCMYKOn annual visits to see a friend in Alleghany County, multiple people approached Ganci asking her for a haircut. That’s when she decided she needed to introduce the New York City style to Western New York. “I bring style, designs, and I know what is in right now,” she said.

Along with that distinct city style, Ganci uses hair tools that “no other barbershop has within a 30 mile radius.” Another aspect Ganci wants to bring is comfort to those who come to her shop. “I want to make my shop as a second home for people and to provide a homey atmosphere,” said Ganci. To help create an inviting atmosphere, she has a sign-in book in the corner of her shop where customers can put in their information so she can send them items such as Christmas cards.

 

Ganci’s business has already attracted many of Houghton College’s professors and students, who get a discount when they present their student ID. “Her design skills are amazing and the passion she has for her work really shows how much she loves her job,” said senior, Enrico Sukhdeo. Sukhdeo, who wasn’t sure what to expect when he walked into Capones Cuts, was pleasantly surprised by Ganci’s skills. “I’ve gotten my hair cut from some very skilled barbers in the past and she is definitely in that category,” he said.

Douglas Gaerte, professor of communication, decided to go to Capones Cuts because he was too busy to go to Olean, where he had been getting his hair cut for more than fifteen years. He too, was satisfied with the results. Gaerte said, “She is fantastic. She was very attentive to the way I like my hair and took her time to learn my preferences.” Both Gaerte and Sukhdeo plan on seeing Ganci again the next time they need haircuts.

PhyllisGaerte_Capones

Attempting to start her own business, Ganci faced some difficulties along the way. “I went to at least ten different places in Fillmore, Cuba, Belfast; and no one wanted to rent me space,” said Ganci. Just when she felt like nothing was going to work out, Ganci drove down Route 19 and saw a rental space sign at Buddy’s Place. “I just ran in there hoping to get something, and I’ve never felt so welcomed,” she said referring to the other businesses that occupy the building. “I believe in God, and I believe He brought me here for a reason.”

She puts an emphasis on people pursuing their dreams. “If you have passion you can do anything,” she said. “I am forty-one, so it’s never too late to live your dream. If I can do it, then you can do it.”

Even though Ganci recognizes Houghton and Queens are on opposite ends of the spectrum, she doesn’t deem that as an excuse to not bring quality of service to the area. She said, “It’s not a million dollar place, but I will make you feel like a million bucks.”

Categories
News

Fifteen Houghton Students Joined Climate March

Fifteen Houghton students joined 400,000 marchers in New York city this past Sunday for the People’s Climate March. Five hundred buses brought people from all across the United States to march for climate justice. Marchers held cardboard signs with the phrases such as, “There is no PLANet B”. There were voices of many who sought hope to see change in the climate and world. According to People Climate, this was the biggest climate march in history.

LukeLauer_ClimateMarch3_CMYKOn Sunday, U.N. Secretary, General Ban Ki Moon called all the world leaders to discuss possible ways for climate change. According to People Climate, the meeting was held in New York City for over 100 world leaders and 2,808 solidarity events in 166 countries.

Led by Brian Webb, the sustainability coordinator of Houghton College, and his wife Becky, fifteen Houghton students attended the march. Webb said the reasons to bring students, are for “Students to learn more about the problem of climate change, possible global responses to address the issue, actions they can take to reduce our climate impact and standing up and advocating for action to curb climate change is the morally right thing to do.”

Webb joined the 400,000 marchers in the streets of New York. Those who participated in the march came from more than 2,000 cities all around the world. Webb said the students met with other groups, including Christians and members of Young Evangelicals for Climate Action, prior to the march.

Two juniors, Lauren Bechtel and David Tse, were among the 15 students who went to New York City. Bechtel said, “Just how blessed we are as Americans to be able to use our voices in the public sphere without fear of punishment. I had never marched before, and being a part of over 400,000 marchers was both a reminder of how small the individual is, and how powerful the force of individuals joined together can be.”

Tse said, “It is amazing to participate in something bigger than myself. It was encouraging that many people who were willing to give up their weekends and go out of their comfort zones to do something.”

LukeLauer_ClimateMarch2_CMYKThe most interesting part of the march Bechtel mentioned happened at 12:58 p.m. on Sunday, when there was a countdown amidst all the noise then a moment of complete silence for those currently suffering from the effects of climate change. “The energy in the crowd during the moment of silence was incredible” said Bechtel.

A lot was learned not only about social justice, but also the effects of climate change. Webb said, “It’s time for the Church to stand up and say that we have a moral obligation to act on climate change. Climate change will be the defining issue of the 21st century, and how our country responds in the next 5-10 years will play a significant role in determining what the world looks like in the coming centuries.”

A New York Times article told a story of a 75 year old woman who travelled across the country to participate in the march. She wanted to “let the rest of the world know that people from small town America and rural America care about climate change.”

 

Foderaro, W. Lisa. “Taking a Call for Climate Change to the Streets.” The New York Times. New York Times. 21 Sept. 2014. Web. 22 Sept. 2014.

Peoples Climate. 2014. Web. 21 Sept. 2014.

Categories
News

New VOCA Office Opens in Campus Center

A noticeable new edition to the Van Dyke Lounge, is the Fleming-Farver Vocational Opportunities and Career Advising (VOCA office). The office was made possible by a generous donation by Thomas, Ph.D. ’64 and Phyllis (Fleming ‘65) Farver. The VOCA office, lead by Director Kim Pool and Coordinator Brian Reitnour, including other staff such as Administrative Assistant, Cindy Hannigan, Vocational Specialist Rebecca Rowley, Dean Jordan, along with multiple VOCA counselors, offers services that were previously offered in the Career Services Office.

VOCAVOCA will support academic departments and advisors, as well as help students find internship opportunities and connect with Houghton alumni for potential career opportunities through the use of a service called Houghton Connects. According to Pool, the VOCA office hopes to streamline career resources for Houghton students as well as “significantly increase the number of internships and jobs in our online database, specifically in Buffalo and New York City. We also hope to launch an online system that will house internships and streamline the process for registering and receiving approval for an academic internship.” Although, she said, “academic content and approval of academic credit are under the jurisdiction of the Academic Records Office, academic departments, and faculty.

Reitnour stated, “We also hope to talk with students about the broader concept of vocation and God’s calling, which spans beyond one’s occupation to include civic responsibility, relationships with friends and family, church participation and extra curricular activities.” Reitnour also said, “Discovering one’s vocation is more than just searching within to identify unique interests and attributes. It also involves taking a deep look at the world’s needs. We hope to connect students with opportunities to use their skills to serve the needs of the world.”

“The previous location [of Career Services] was tucked away and too small to effectively reach out to 1,000 students. The new location is highly visible and accessible, not only to current students but also prospective students and parents,” Hannigan said. “Its visibility during campus tours communicates Houghton’s commitment and institutional priority to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to be prepared for life after college.” She said that the rest of the Van Dyk lounge will be receiving new furniture in the next few weeks to compliment the VOCA décor.

VOCA offers services to all Houghton students, not just upperclassman. Pool said, “First years and sophomores will definitely benefit from talking with a VOCA counselor early about choosing a major and career options.” In addition to this, students can take advantage of the career assessment tests available at VOCA, as well as Houghton Connects and workshops. Upcoming workshop topics include subjects such as networking, resumes and cover letters, and interviewing skills. A student can even request to do a mock interview with a VOCA counselor.

The new location has already seen in increase in student activity. Students can make appointments in person as well as online, at http://www.houghton.edu/students/voca/. Pool said, “Whatever your class year, we encourage you to make an appointment today to talk with a VOCA counselor who can assess where you are in the four year plan and make sure you are headed in the right direction.”

Categories
News

Internationally Known Artist, Willie Cole, Comes to Houghton

Houghton College’s Ortlip Gallery is currently exhibiting the works of internationally known contemporary artist, Willie Cole. This collection spans over a 35 year period of Cole’s life and incorporates various forms of media, including: drawings, paintings, sculpture and prints. The exhibition, titled “Complex Conversations: Willie Cole Sculptures and Wall Works” gives light to the “urban African-American male experience,” according to Cole’s artist statement.
“Complex Conversations . . .” is a traveling exhibition, having already been shown at Western Michigan University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Elbert Art Center, and Grinnell College before arriving at Houghton College. The exhibition is curated by Patterson Sims, Chairman of the Board of Independent Curators International (ICI) and President of the Leon Polk Smith Foundation.Willie Cole
Cole’s work was introduced to Houghton College by Professor Jillian Sokso during the 2013-14 Faculty Lecture Series. In her lecture, Sokso examined the discourse of race, gender, and identity between the Cole’s work and African American artist Allison Saar. Sokso said Cole’s work “references African cultures and people groups. . . [also found] in the Hudgin’s Collection.”
The Hudgin’s Collection, donated by the late Charles Hudgins to Houghton College shortly before his passing in June 2011, consists of a wide assortment of African Art. A selection of this work is also available for viewing in the Center for the Arts Atrium at this time.
Cole’s artistic sensibility was noticed at an early age and only expanded as time went on. Cole was mainly influenced by exposure to the manipulation of objects through his father’s work as a factory mechanic, the African art and culture he studied at the School for Visual Arts in New York.
Cole’s work utilizes a variety of used consumer products such as irons, high-heels, hair dryers, and many other items. The use of domestic objects gives viewers a glimpse of Cole’s personal life, while remaining universally relatable.
Director of the Ortlip Gallery, Alicia Taylor. said, “Cole’s process creates an expansive dialog, exploring and transforming objects in a carefully crafted rhythm that prompts a shift in our perception. . . Pushing our sense of familiarity by converting household goods into symbols of culture, spirituality and politics, the work provides provocative and fresh entry points for connection”.
Cole’s artwork is currently represented through Alexander and Bonin, New York and is found around the world in numerous collections and museums, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, and the FRAC-Lorraine in Metz, France. "Complex Conversations"
“Complex Conversations: Willie Cole Sculptures and Wall works” will be available to view in the Ortlip Gallery until October 15, Monday through Saturday, 9am to 6pm. A public reception will be held in the Center for the Arts Friday, September 12th at 7pm. Willie Cole will also be giving an artist lecture on Saturday, September 13 at 11:30 a.m. in the Recital Hall.
Taylor states “‘Complex Conversations . . .’ is not just for artists” and“such distinguished work on campus is an opportunity to challenge ourselves with engaging with the work, connecting with culture, and experience.”

Categories
Stories In Focus

Recommended Reads: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

This summer I was introduced to the talented writings of Gillian Flynn, a contemporary writer, who has composed three novels, Sharp Objects, Dark Places, and her latest, and in my opinion her best, Gone Girl. All three of her writings are packed full of mystery that keeps you from putting the book down until the very end, and trust me, they are all worth it, so don’t skip ahead. These thrilling stories take you into the minds of very complex individuals whose lives revolve around seeking the truth, which takes them each on a journey worth reading about.

Courtesy of katyat34.typepad.com
Courtesy of katyat34.typepad.com

Gone Girl begins with introducing us to a couple from the Midwest, Nick and Amy Dune, on the day of their fifth anniversary. But this isn’t any normal anniversary; this is the day that Nick’s wife goes missing. The story is written from the perspective of Nick Dune, beginning the day Amy goes missing and continues to tell the story each day afterward. At the same time the reader is able to learn a lot about who Amy is through her diary entries, which date back as far as seven years.

From the very beginning it is obvious that Nick and Amy are not having the greatest relationship. This is mostly to do with the fact that they both were forced to move from their home in New York City back to Nick’s small hometown in Missouri. To make matters worse, their once flourishing jobs in the writing world came to an end because of the poor economy and the decline in newspapers and magazines jobs available. Another factor damaging their relationship is the secrets that they both have withheld from each other.

As the days go by we learn more about Nick and the difficulties he goes through. From the very beginning the police and the town assume Nick to be the main suspect for Amy’s disappearance. His lack of emotion is noticed by both the police and the media. He also has great difficulty at thinking before he acts which makes matters worse.  No one believes his innocence except for his sister Go (short for Margo.)

We can come to the conclusion that Nick couldn’t be the one behind his wife’s disappearance because we are reading the story in his point of view, and can see that he truly does not know where Amy is. Panicked and angry he responds to the police during their investigation “My wife is gone. My wife is gone!” finally showing his concern that he has so much trouble expressing throughout the book. But there is still so much that we don’t know about him, for instance the truth that that he no longer loves his wife. But he still cares for her and is determined to find what happened to her.

As the days go by we continue to learn about Amy through her diary. We come to know her like we would a new friend, listening to the stories of her life with Nick. She is a happy and bubbly person who is always on the positive side of things. Yet as we read further we make another discovery that casts her husband in an entirely different light than what we’ve previously encountered him as the narrator of the story. So who are we to believe, Nick or Amy?

I recommend reading Gone Girl because it is a story with many layers; it is interesting, compelling, and plays clever psychological tricks on your mind. As you read, you may start to think that you know these characters, and you might even venture a guess as to what happened to Amy. However as soon as you’re halfway through the book, there is a plot twist that you never seen coming, and the story abruptly and completely changes. One would expect elements of mystery in any of Flynn’s books, but with Gone Girl she takes it to a whole different level.

Gone Girl was number one on the New York Times’ Best Seller list for eight full weeks. It has garnered a generous amount of praise, and will soon be adapted into a major motion picture by 20th Century Fox, with Ben Affleck as Nick and Rosamund Pike as Amy. The film will be released October 3rd 2014. So go read this amazing thriller for yourself and experience the great writing Gillian Flynn has to offer.